I need a new Twitter name, and I’m at a loss. Help? (casual friday)

Yeah, I feel a little narcissistic writing this post (that’s why I save posts like this for Fridays!), but I’ve finally reached the point of annoyance that something has to happen.

When I first went to seminary, I went to Westminster Theological Seminary, which is a Presbyterian school. I had a really good (who is recently engaged) friend from Lancaster, Pennsylvania that I had met in Richmond. He moved back to Lancaster around the same time I came up to Pennsylvania myself to go to school. And so, naturally, I made some visits to Lancaster to see him and meet his friends.

And so naturally, he had to give his friends a heads up as to who I was, and naturally, he said I was going to a Presbyterian seminary. And so, they just started calling me “The Presbyterian”. And then it became “Presbyterian Paul”. And then “Presby”. And then “PresbyPaul”. There was just one problem:

I have never been, am not, and will never be a Presbyterian. And that’s what made this funny.
But still, when joining this little Twitter thing that was starting up, those folks dared me to pick the user name PresbyPaul. And so–because of this dare—I did.

And I’ve regretted it ever since. It’s a silly user name, and I’m embarrassed to give it out whenever I’m asked about it. I’d love to have a user name that’s a bit more “normal”. I’m tired of it and it’s time to change it.

But, I haven’t, mainly because I can’t find any alternatives. The most frustrating thing is that @PaulBurkhart is taken, but it’s by someone who has never posted anything on there. Supposedly, Twitter “releases” these user names at some point if this happens, but alas, after watching it for a year, it has not.

And so, I’m asking you all for some help. I can’t think of any Twitter name that’s not taken, and that would make sense with the other online services I use. Here are the variables for a possible Twitter name:

My name: Paul Michael Burkhart

My blog: the long way home

My homepage: Prodigal Paul

“PaulBurkhart”, “PaulMBurkhart”,”thelongwayhome”, and “ProdigalPaul” are all taken. Does anyone else have any ideas? Feel free to offer them below. (Or have fun with this site on my behalf! Just kidding.)

And again: yes, I feel extremely weird writing this post. I promise I won’t do it again.

Have you reached out to twitter about releasing that name? I know a lot of time they’re pretty good with their customer service in that sense. So maybe send them an email before you give up on that name.

PaulNotPresby! Ok that’s way to long. PaulBurk? Isn’t it crazy we spend so much time thinking of this stuff? The wrong name though – BAM – people think you’re selling used cars or are a 10 year old girl.